Watercolor Techniques for Realistic Snowy Trees & Bushes

Step 1: Studying And Sketching

Print out a good quality photograph of snow-covered trees. Steve uses a picture taken in February of Yosemite National Park, which you can find here.

Start by studying a single pine tree and the shape its branches and the snow on top make, and lightly sketch in simple outlines with your pencil. Try to draw without preconceptions on what the tree or snow should look like, and remember that nature is always random and unpredictable, so your tree should end up looking quite uneven. You can also sketch in the trunk and the snow on the ground. Clean up any extraneous lines with a kneaded eraser, especially in snowy areas, before continuing.

Like watercolor painting?

There's more to art than watercolor painting. Art is all around you. Just look around and draw what you see. Use your sketchbook frequently. Familiarize yourself with drawing materials and art concepts such as perspective, values, composition, design principles, and the golden spiral.

This site is designed to help you start and continue your artistic life. Take your time and study the reference sections in our Learning Center, a mini online art school. Learn the basics of color theory or find out how to sharpen a pencil with a knife. Then ask questions and surf the web for answers. Find more answers in books, in museums, and in yourself. This site is constantly being updated with more answers and we hope to see you again.